Marantz

New Bluesound Node and Powernode are fittingly well-furnished streamers

Home News (Image credit: Bluesound) Bluesound has refreshed its excellent Node 2i music streamer and Powernode 2i streaming amplifier. The next generation of the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning devices or now boast new DAC designs, more powerful processors, and touch panel controls with presets. They simply carry the original Node and Powernode monikers. For the uninitiated,… Read more

How to add voice control to your hi-fi system

Home Advice (Image credit: Bluesound) Voice control isn’t the sole preserve of wireless smart speakers, you know. Barking “Alexa, open Just Eat” at your Echo Dot (or other Alexa speaker), or “Hey Google, what’s in my calendar for today” to your Google Assistant speaker just for the joy of hearing that your schedule is clear,… Read more

Voxx and Sharp in talks to buy struggling Onkyo

Home News (Image credit: Onkyo) Sharp and Voxx are in talks to take over Onkyo. The struggling Japanese audio brand is reported to be on the verge of financial collapse, so this could be the Osaka-based firm’s last roll of the dice. “VOXX International Corporation today announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent… Read more

What is HDMI QFT? The future of low latency gaming explained

Home Advice (Image credit: HDMI.org) It’s not an HDMI standard with much publicity right now, but HDMI QFT should be one you’re keeping an eye on if gaming is a priority. It may be one of the lesser talked about HDMI 2.1 features but this low latency technology has the potential to make your on-screen… Read more

That Was Then… NAD 3020

Home Features (Image credit: NAD) If we were to make a list of the most important stereo amplifiers of all time, there’s every chance that NAD’s original 3020 would feature. It is widely claimed to be the best selling integrated amplifier ever, which would be reason enough for it to rate highly on our list,… Read more

Nils Frahm: “When I like something I want to know why; I want to understand the principle”

Home Features (Image credit: Leiter Verlag) “I suppose you can’t have true respect for something unless you’re willing to challenge it,” we posit to Nils Frahm. “Exactly,” he replies. “Exactly.” It feels good to have Frahm agree with you. Not only because his music is as much part of our homes – and the What Hi-Fi?… Read more

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3

Our Verdict Wharfedale’s Diamond 12.3 floorstanders are refined, entertaining and well built. What’s not to like? For Superbly balanced presentation Expressive and revealing midrange Pleasing build and finish Against Nothing at this price Mention the words ‘Wharfedale Diamond’, and the image that comes to mind is that of a small talented budget standmounters. That description… Read more

That Was Then… Sonus Faber Extrema

Home Features (Image credit: Sonus Faber) Launched back in 1991, Sonus Faber’s original Extrema were seen as the culmination of everything the Italian manufacturer had learnt in its first decade. Up to that point, the brand had carved out a useful niche at premium price levels, with a limited range of compact standmounters that were… Read more

High-resolution audio: everything you need to know

Home Advice (Image credit: Astell & Kern) After years of niche positioning in the music world, “high-resolution audio” (or “hi-res audio”) finally hit the mainstream, thanks to a huge raft of support in streaming services (such as Tidal and Amazon Music HD) and products (from smartphones to most digital hi-fi components). So why should you… Read more

DTS Play-Fi: what is it? What speakers and devices support it?

Home Advice (Image credit: DTS) What’s the first thing you think of when someone says the word ‘multi-room’? For most, we imagine it’s a dedicated set-up from a single manufacturer such as Sonos or Bluesound, with its connected ecosystem of speakers, soundbars, soundbases and hi-fi components. Or perhaps you’d think of AirPlay 2, a gateway… Read more

Raspberry Pi OS Update Kills Flash

Home News (Image credit: Future) The end has finally come for Adobe Flash on the Raspberry Pi. What once powered many memes and early Internet games is no more. With the latest update to Raspberry Pi OS, Adobe Flash has been removed from the official Raspberry Pi operating system but this brings about an issue… Read more

Review: Marantz PM6007 and CD6007

Veddan at Listening Matters Month of the HIFI read more » Yamaha at Hemmers Month of the HIFI read more » Month of the HIFI Overview Hi-Visits read more »

IMAX Enhanced comes to Polk Audio and Definitive Technology speakers

Home News (Image credit: Xperi) Polk Audio and Definitive Technology have become the first home cinema brands to have their speaker packages certified for IMAX Enhanced compatibility. The move allows an almost end-to-end IMAX Enhanced experience which can now included a certified 4K Blu-ray film, AVR, TV or projector and speaker system too. The IMAX… Read more

HDMI 2.1 bug in AV receivers: Yamaha also admits problems

Last Friday heise online reported that the computer magazine c’t in its current issue 23 / 20 reveals a suspected breakdown of the chip manufacturer Panasonic Solutions (now taken over by Nuvoton Technology). According to the current state of knowledge, this breakdown ensures that all HDMI 2.1-compatible receivers (also called “8K models”) from Denon, Marantz… Read more

Manufacturer comments on HDMI 2.1 problems with Denon and Marantz receivers

Last Friday heise online reported that the computer magazine c’t in its current issue 23 / 20 uncovered a suspected breakdown of the chip manufacturer Panasonic Solutions (now taken over by Nuvoton Technology). According to the current state of knowledge, this breakdown ensures that all HDMI 2.1 compatible receivers (also called “8K models”) from Denon,… Read more